Contact lens case with adhesive pad to remove lint and debris from fingers

ABSTRACT

A contact lens case has an integrated adhesive pad that can remove lint and debris from a user&#39;s fingers prior to picking up a contact lens. The contact lens case can include containers for each of a user&#39;s left and right contact lens. The adhesive pad can be any pad onto which a user can place their fingers to remove lint and debris therefrom, without leaving behind a residue. The containers and the adhesive pad can be disposed within a single case with a cover to protect both elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/554,689, filed Nov. 2, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to contact lens accessories and, more particularly, to a contact lens case having an adhesive pad to remove lint and debris from a user's fingers.

For sanitary reasons, most people wash and dry their hands prior to inserting contact lenses into their eyes. In most cases, however, drying one's hands can leave lint and other debris on their fingertips. This lint and debris can then be transferred to the contact lens, prior to insertion into the eye, thus transferring the lint and debris into the eye.

Conventional contact lens cleaning and storage cases include containers for each contact lens, but do not include any additional means for removing lint and debris from one's fingers prior to retrieving the contact lens and placing it into the eye.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that can be used to store and clean contact lens, but also includes a mechanism for removing lint and debris from a user's fingers prior to picking up the contact lens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a contact lens case comprises a base; a left contact lens container disposed on the base; a right contact lens container disposed on the base; and an adhesive pad disposed on the base, the adhesive pad operable to remove lint and debris from a user's fingers.

In another aspect of the present invention, a contact lens case comprises a base; a left contact lens container disposed on the base; a left container cap fitting over the left contact lens container; a right contact lens container disposed on the base; a right container cap fitting over the right contact lens container; an adhesive pad disposed on the base; and a cover operable to encase the left contact lens container, the right contact lens holder, and the base.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a contact lens case with an adhesive pad, in use, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the contact lens case with the adhesive pad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a contact lens case having an integrated adhesive pad that can remove lint and debris from a user's fingers prior to picking up a contact lens. The contact lens case can include containers for each of a user's left and right contact lens. The adhesive pad can be any pad onto which a user can place their fingers to remove lint and debris therefrom, without leaving behind a residue. The containers and the adhesive pad can be disposed within a single case with a cover to protect both elements.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, a contact lens case can include a base 12 having a left lens container 14 and a right lens container 18. The left lens container 14 can be covered with a left lens container cap 16 while the right lens container 18 can be covered with a right lens container cap 20. In some embodiments, the left and right lens container caps 16, 20 can be two separate elements, while, in other embodiments, the left and right container caps 16, 20 can be interconnected to allow the user to remove both left and right container caps 16, 20 in a single action.

A left contact lens 24 can be placed in the left lens container 14 and a right contact lens 26 can be placed in the right lens container 18. Contact lens solution 30 can be placed in both the left and right lens containers 14, 18 to clean and/or store the contact lenses 24, 26. The left and right container caps 16, 20 can be placed over the left and right lens containers 14, 18 to prevent spillage of the contact lens solution 30.

An adhesive pad 22 can be disposed adjacent to the left and right lens containers 14, 18. The adhesive pad 22 can be designed such that lint or other debris on a user's fingers can be removed by tapping their fingers on the adhesive pad 22 before using their hand 28 to handle the contact lenses 24, 26. Typically, the adhesive pad 22 is designed so that no residue is transferred from the adhesive pad 22 to the user's fingers. In some embodiments, the adhesive pad 22 can include a plurality of adhesive pads 22 stacked together, as shown best in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, as one adhesive pad 22 loses its adhesiveness, that pad can be removed to expose a “fresh” adhesive pad. In some embodiments, the adhesive pad 22 can be made in various manners, such as a foam pad that may attract lint and debris as a user runs their fingers along the pad.

A cover 10 can be disposed over the left and right lens containers 14, 18 and the adhesive pad 22. The cover 10 can prevent lint and debris from being attracted to the adhesive pad 22 during transport or storage of the contact lens case of the present invention.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A contact lens case comprising: a base; a left contact lens container disposed on the base; a right contact lens container disposed on the base; and an adhesive pad disposed on the base, the adhesive pad operable to remove lint and debris from a user's fingers.
 2. The contact lens case of claim 1, further comprising a cover operable to encase the left contact lens container, the right contact lens holder, and the base.
 3. The contact lens case of claim 1, further comprising a left container cap covering the left contact lens container and a right container cap covering the right contact lens container.
 4. The contact lens case of claim 1, wherein the adhesive pad includes a plurality of adhesive pads stacked on top of each other.
 5. The contact lens case of claim 1, wherein the left and right contact lens containers are operable to contain left and right contact lenses therein.
 6. A contact lens case comprising: a base; a left contact lens container disposed on the base; a left container cap fitting over the left contact lens container; a right contact lens container disposed on the base; a right container cap fitting over the right contact lens container; an adhesive pad disposed on the base; and a cover operable to encase the left contact lens container, the right contact lens holder, and the base.
 7. The contact lens case of claim 6, wherein the adhesive pad includes a plurality of adhesive pads stacked on top of each other.
 8. The contact lens case of claim 6, wherein the left and right contact lens containers are operable to contain left and right contact lenses therein. 